Previous Winners 2003

Brynteg, situated approximately three miles west of Wrexham in North Wales, has an industrial heritage with past reliance on the steel and coal mining industries.

Brynteg, situated approximately three miles west of Wrexham in North Wales, has an industrial heritage with past reliance on the steel and coal mining industries. Over recent years, the village has seen many changes but it remains a strong community with a network of close relationships.

Newcomers are welcomed to the village and are encouraged to join the many groups and activities available. To keep villagers fully informed, the local shops display posters and notices giving information on community events and a community web page is also available to view online. A community newsletter is published four times a year and delivered free to all homes within the area. This allows groups to publicise their activities and events, promote the work they do in the community and ask for new members. A video made by local residents showing the changes made in the community over the last two years has also been sent to every home in the village. The video included a pre-paid slip which residents could use to give their views on the changes. The response has been very positive.

The village boasts a Memorial Centre, a Lifelong Learning Centre, a Community House and a sports/activities site currently under development. The amount of support available in the community is outstanding and the number of residents involved in the community work is continually growing. In particular the village works hard to provide facilities for its children and young people. Numerous activities are available including a holiday playscheme, two playgroups, a youth club, football teams and tennis coaching. The villages young people have been fully consulted on all these projects and will be offered the opportunity to comment on any future additions or changes.

Brynteg has achieved a great deal and continues to work hard to achieve even more. The community works well with various voluntary, statutory and private bodies with the main aim of improving the quality of life for all residents.

Brynteg, situated approximately three miles west of Wrexham in North Wales, has an industrial heritage with past reliance on the steel and coal mining industries.

Brynteg, situated approximately three miles west of Wrexham in North Wales, has an industrial heritage with past reliance on the steel and coal mining industries. Over recent years, the village has seen many changes but it remains a strong community with a network of close relationships.

Newcomers are welcomed to the village and are encouraged to join the many groups and activities available. To keep villagers fully informed, the local shops display posters and notices giving information on community events and a community web page is also available to view online. A community newsletter is published four times a year and delivered free to all homes within the area. This allows groups to publicise their activities and events, promote the work they do in the community and ask for new members. A video made by local residents showing the changes made in the community over the last two years has also been sent to every home in the village. The video included a pre-paid slip which residents could use to give their views on the changes. The response has been very positive.

The village boasts a Memorial Centre, a Lifelong Learning Centre, a Community House and a sports/activities site currently under development. The amount of support available in the community is outstanding and the number of residents involved in the community work is continually growing. In particular the village works hard to provide facilities for its children and young people. Numerous activities are available including a holiday playscheme, two playgroups, a youth club, football teams and tennis coaching. The village’s young people have been fully consulted on all these projects and will be offered the opportunity to comment on any future additions or changes.

Brynteg has achieved a great deal and continues to work hard to achieve even more. The community works well with various voluntary, statutory and private bodies with the main aim of improving the quality of life for all residents.

Cilgerran, south of Cardigan in Pembrokeshire, is an established village with traditional standards and a warm and friendly community.

Cilgerran, south of Cardigan in Pembrokeshire, is an established village with traditional standards and a warm and friendly community.

The environment is an important issue for the residents of Cilgerran. In order to minimise the pollution from cars, there is an extensive network of footpaths around the village which is well used by locals and visitors. There is also a very popular cycle trail into Cardigan and several buses a day run to Cardigan, Crymych and further. The village is kept tidy by a village caretaker who is paid by the Community Council and there are glass and clothing recycling facilities in the village, with a newspaper bank to be added shortly.

Villagers are kept informed of community events and activities with a parish magazine, numerous noticeboards and two village websites. The focal point for these activities is the village hall which a few years ago was on the point of closure. Volunteers worked hard for months and, with the support of the whole community, raised enough money to fund a refurbishment programme. The hall is now self-supporting and fund raising activities continue to cover maintenance and the improvement of its facilities.

With numerous places of interest in and around the village, Cilgerran has much to offer residents and visitors alike. There is a 12th century castle near the centre of the village and free entry passes are available for local residents. During the summer months a travelling theatre company performs plays by Shakespeare in its grounds. The village is also situated on the banks of the River Teifi and the Teifi Marshes Nature Reserve lies within its community boundary. The Reserve is made up of hundreds of acres of marsh, woodland and farmland and is open all year. It is run by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales and Cilgerran Community Council have an associate membership so that any resident of the village can apply for free parking access.

Betws yn Rhos, situated close to Abergele on the North Wales coast, is a friendly and lively village which works well together, listening to and acting on the needs of all its residents

Betws yn Rhos, situated close to Abergele on the North Wales coast, is a friendly and lively village which works well together, listening to and acting on the needs of all its residents.

With a total of 518 on its electoral roll, Betws yn Rhos is small in size, but there is a very active business community in the village, serving both the local people and the surrounding districts. The buildings of a redundant farm have been converted to industrial units which are let to small businesses such as a furniture maker and a carpet fitter. The fields of the same disused farm have been turned into a golf course creating further employment opportunities. The general need for farm diversification in the area has led to a number of other projects including a home-baked cake business run by the local farmers wives.

Both young and old are fully integrated into this all-embracing community. There is a great range of facilities in the village catering for younger people, the most recent addition to which is a sports area. This was created using funds raised by the village and provides a football pitch, an all-weather area and a block consisting of a pavilion, a meeting room and a kitchen - all of which are in daily use. For the older people bungalows are provided in the village and home carers and careline facilities are also available.

There are a number of annual events which see the entire village getting together. The main one of these is the Annual Sports Day and Pony Gymkhana. This is organised by a number of different organisations including the village hall committee, the pony club and the Young Farmers.

Betws yn Rhos is a hard working community which is driven by enthusiasm and resourcefulness. The village continually strives to offer the best facilities and services for all its residents.

Clawddnewydd, situated south west of Ruthin in Denbighshire, North Wales, is a lively community with a strong sense of purpose.

Clawddnewydd, situated south west of Ruthin in Denbighshire, North Wales, is a lively community with a strong sense of purpose. It is a community made up of residents with a wide range of talents, skills and experience who are willing to give their time and energy to make the village a better place to live.

In order to keep the villagers informed of the numerous events and activities that take place throughout the year in Clawddnewydd, a diary of events is produced voluntarily every two months and this is sent out on request. The diary is automatically given to newcomers who are encouraged to take part in the village activities.

Clawddnewydd is a very caring community. The village works hard to raise funds, not only for its own use, but also for the benefit of good causes outside the community. At least £10,000 is raised each year through whist drives held in the village hall, enough to run the village hall and to support local charities. Other events organised by local inhabitants raise money for the St John’s Ambulance, Christian Aid and the North Wales Cancer Centre.

The older people in the village are actively involved in the community. They take part in village events such as coffee mornings and craft fairs, and are valued members of various village committees. The younger members of the community appreciate the knowledge and experience of Clawddnewydd’s older residents and welcome their help on village projects such as the conservation work carried out in the village. Many of the older people work behind the counter in the community shop voluntarily and have also served on its committee.

Whilst Clawddnewydd is a thriving village that has achieved a great deal for all its residents, the community continues to work hard to make things even better. For example, there is currently a lack of affordable housing for the village’s younger inhabitants. This is being addressed by the community councils that serve Clawddnewydd in conjunction with the Local Planning Authority.